The online component of FIFA 12 is far from lacking this year as well. That has a lot to do with the fact that they took a close look at the feedback they received from the community and made the necessary adjustments. The server issues that kept gamers frustrated during Online Team Play have been resolved, better matchmaking solutions have been presented, and they've found out a way to stop people from cheating their way to the top of the leaderboards. So, should you decide to spend some time online in FIFA 12, you'll most likely find it to be a better experience that previous entries.

There's the EA Sports Football Club, which works a bit like Need for Speed's Autolog, allowing friends to compete asynchronously and post news of their accomplishments to Facebook. Then there's Support Your Club. At the beginning of the game you'll be asked to pick your favorite soccer team. Everything you do in the game earns you XP points, and you level up to unlock gear and things like that. The XP you earn is also counted toward your favorite team, and scores are tallied at the end of each week to determine which club has the most active supporters. FIFA Ultimate Team, which works sort of like a fantasy football league, allows players to buy, sell, and trade players from within the community and then compete with their teams either online or offline.

There are a lot of "carrot and stick" gameplay elements like this that are meant keep the player motivated, and I'm delighted to say it's all done tastefully. The game controls fine, though there's a slight learning curve for timing things properly, but the controls are fully customizable.

When all is said and done, the fundamentals of the sport are extremely well represented, and as of this writing you'd be hard pressed to find a better soccer game.

By
Patriel Manning
CCC Contributing Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.2

GraphicsPlayers look and act like their real-life counterparts. Animation can be a bit stiff at times.

4.0

ControlControls are good, but come with a slight learning curve. They're also fully customizable.

4.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice ActingThe sound is easily the most impressive I've heard in any FIFA title. The score was also enjoyable.

4.4

Play ValueThere's a lot to do here that will keep the most dedicated completionists busy for some time.

4.5

Overall Rating - Must BuyNot an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend

0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid

2.5 - 2.9 = Average

3.5 - 3.9 = Good

4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy

2.0 - 2.4 = Poor

3.0 - 3.4 = Fair

4.0 - 4.4 = Great

5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Player Impact Engine—Two years in development, the new physics engine is built to deliver real-world physicality in every interaction on the pitch. Experience an infinite variety of natural and believable outcomes in every contact. Players feel more resilient on the ball, push and pull during the fight for possession, and recover from light challenges more easily, preserving their natural momentum.

Pro Player Intelligence—CPU players have been infused with self-awareness and aptitude, enabling them to make decisions based on their own skills as well as the strengths and attributes of their teammates. Players who possess exceptional vision, for example, will see opportunities for through balls that other players won't. Real Madrid's Kaká will be more likely—and quicker—to pick out a run from a teammate farther away than a player with poorer vision. Additionally, teams will vary their attack based on the strengths of their players on the pitch, and the weaknesses of opposing players, creating a more authentic experience and greater variety of matches.

Tactical Defending—Re-designed defending mechanism fundamentally changes the approach to defending by placing equal importance on positioning, intercepting passes and tackling at the right moment. Tactics and timing are crucial.

Precision Dribbling—Enjoy new ways to take on opponents, more time on the ball to make decisions, and complete control of the pace of the game. Utilize close dribble touches in tight spaces, on the wings, and even while fending off an opponent.

EA SPORTS Football Club—For the first time ever, everything within FIFA Soccer 12, and against friends, is measured in a meaningful way. Every match matters. Earn experience points and level up to build status. Track friends, challenges, and status through the web. Share and compare accomplishments and spread the news on social channels like Facebook. Plus, real-world storylines will drive content. Gamers will relive crucial real-world events through regular challenges so that FIFA Soccer 12 will look, feel, and play like the real-world season.

Support Your Club—A central experience in EA SPORTS Football Club that enables fans to represent their club and compete against rival clubs in everything they do in FIFA Soccer 12. Earn club points to lift your club higher in the Support Your Club League Tables or help them avoid relegation. Virtual league tables are reset each week to create new challenges, renewed rivalries, and fresh storylines.

Career Mode – Now driven by the same drama, storylines, and emotion as the real-world game, factors such as player morale, on-pitch form, wages, and league position will drive outcomes in the game. Users will face more decisions and factors than ever before, with their consequences being played out on and off the pitch to test your resolve as a manager all season long, with bigger decisions to make and more dynamic outcomes. Evaluation logic has been improved to reflect a player's true value, a new scouting network feature has been added to discover new talent, and the excitement of Transfer Deadline day has been expanded to increase the emotion, urgency, and drama of that special day.